UPDATED: Final 'Rocky' Appears -- Banner Reads, 'Stop the Presses'

By: E&P Staff The final edition of The Rocky Mountain News of Denver appeared this morning. "Goodbye, Colorado," read the headline on the promised 52-page commemorative edition wrapping the newspaper.

"STOP THE PRESSES" read the front-page headline inside. Go to our blog, the E&P Pub, www.eandppub.com, to see the "Goodbye" front page and a farewell video.

Here is link to the Rocky wrap:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/27/goodbye-colorado/

Poynter is doing a lot of stuff all day including a Q & A and more:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=123&aid=159230

Both Denver papers went all out to report, explain and, in some cases, mourn, the demise of one of the dailies.

Rocky Mountain News Editor and Publisher John Temple lamented the loss, but sought to explain that the paper's demise was not based on any poor performance. His piece is at:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/27/
temple-why-denver-cant-support-two-papers/

"Contrary to a lot of what has been written, the Rocky is not struggling financially any more than The Post. But its owner, the E.W. Scripps Co., sees losses in Denver worsening and little prospect that the business can be turned around, even in a one-newspaper town," Temple writes. "That's why they decided to leave Denver, after running newspapers here for more than 100 years."

Rocky scribe Kevin Vaughan boasts the paper's continued success until the very end in a piece that notes its handful of Pulitzer Prizes in recent years.

See it at: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/27/
rocky-kept-swinging-until-the-very-end/

At The Denver Post, reality sets in with discussion of the Rocky's closure as a financial help, but not the answer to all Post economic problems:

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11795956

Woody Paige, a longtime Post columnist and national sports voice, declared little joy in seeing his rival depart. "There is no joy today at The Denver Post. It has been said that you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. The Rocky was the enemy, but, at the same time, the friend."

Find it at:
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11796353